Toni stood back and sucked on her cigarette. She didn’t look like the kind of woman who’d risk breaking a nail.
The stainless-steel briefcase with a combination lock on it caught Holly’s eye. Was it filled with money? Could she tell by lifting it? She reached in the airplane’s hold for the case.
Duke covered her hand with his. “I’ll get that.”
“Mixing a little business with vacation time?” Holly asked, trying to be nonchalant.
He pulled the case from Holly’s grip. “Look at Toni over there. She don’t lift a finger. You could learn somethin’ from her.”
Holly wanted to learn something, all right. She wanted to learn what was in that locked briefcase.
CHAPTER 24
Car doors slammed across the grassy field, and Jake watched Holly drive away in her Tahoe. He couldn’t see her guests through the darkened back windows, but the plane looked like money.
Dog jerked on her leash and barked at the Tahoe, as if she’d like to chew a wheel off.
Jake rubbed Dog’s head, then untied her leash from around the fence post. “She’s one of the good guys.”
I think.
If he could find Mackie, could he explain how his prints got on those bags? Could he clear Holly? This assignment blew four ways to the wind.
Shielding his eyes from the glare, he studied the plane. When his gaze landed on the tail section, he did a double take. Wowzer. The playmate on the tail fin would make the plane’s description easy. He squinted to make out the call numbers, then keyed them into his phone. He’d run a search later on the numbers and the guests.
Jake flipped Holly’s key ring around on his finger. He’d found a lock for every key except one, a dull Yale padlock key. He had rummaged through file cabinets, desk drawers, and closets but hadn’t found anything to link Burl or Holly Grove to smuggling, or Mackie, for that matter. ICE knew there were operations along the Mississippi River, but until Sam called in his tip, that was like catching the fifty-pound catfish everyone heard about but no one landed.
If the dope hadn’t fallen out of the dummy, Jake wouldn’t have jack as far as this investigation went. And the hard evidence he had was marked with his father’s and Holly’s fingerprints. He needed something to point him in another direction, because the leads he had couldn’t be right.
Walking Dog around the metal building, he spotted a small railroad container, covered in vines and barely visible, butted up to the fence line. Tall grass whipped around his jeans as he approached the container. A Yale padlock dangled from a rusty metal eye. He fingered the padlock key. “Be the match, baby.”
Dog sniffed around the container and tugged against her leash as Jake tried to insert the key.
“Dog. Be still.” Jake needed two hands to get the key in the lock. He towed Dog to a nearby sapling, then tied her to it.
Dog whined and pulled against her leash.
“You don’t know how lucky you are. You could still be under Mackie’s trailer, chewing on an empty sack of dog food.”
Sunlight glinted off the shiny lock next to the rusty metal eye on the container. New lock. From the invasion of the vines, it was clear that the container had been parked there for years. Why a new lock? Jake eyed the dull key, then shoved it in the lock, anyway. It didn’t budge, but that didn’t surprise him. One more reason there was something inside that he needed to see.
Jake fished his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed Holly. “Hey, the padlock key doesn’t work. It looks like the lock is new. Do you have a newer key?”
“Oh, I forgot. After Burl died, I was going through his stuff out there and his key wouldn’t open the container. I got Mackie to cut the old lock off and replace it.”
“What’s in the container?”
“Mackie cleaned it out. He said it was a bunch of junk.”
Mackie again. “Why would Burl keep junk hidden away under lock and key?”
“Who knows why Burl did anything? I’ll bring you the key as soon as I check in the guests.”
“See you in a few.” Jake shoved his phone in his pocket and walked around the container. Junk. Yeah, right.
The container was built like a brick outhouse and was anchored on a concrete slab. If he hadn’t been looking for an outbuilding with a padlock, he would have never noticed it. No way that it wasn’t short-term storage for narcotics, and unless Mackie had steam-cleaned the place, there would be trace evidence.
Dog let out a sharp bark and wagged her tail. Footsteps crunched on the dry grass behind Jake.
“Yoo-hoo.”
He looked over his shoulder to find Miss Alice tromping through the weeds, wearing white tennis shoes and a black jogging suit.
“There you are,” she said. “Here’s the key. Holly got tied up.”
Jake took the key. “Thanks. You didn’t have to walk all the way out here.”
“Nelda told me you didn’t eat breakfast this morning.”
“Uh . . . no.” And why would Nelda or Miss Alice notice or care?
Dog broke free of the sapling and bolted for Miss Alice. Jake lunged for Dog’s leash but missed.
“Dog!”
“Sit,” Miss Alice shouted with the command of a drill sergeant.
Dog skidded to a stop.
Miss Alice patted her on the head. “Good, Dog.”
“How did you do that?”
“Bacon. She’ll do anything for bacon.”
“You trained her.”
“Stay,” she said to Dog. “She needed social skills, since your father didn’t teach her any.” She looked Jake up and down. “I’m not surprised.”
One more peck on the head. “Social skills are overrated. Dog is supposed to be a watchdog.”
“A watchdog won’t bite the hand that feeds her, and I give her bacon every morning.” Miss Alice marched up to Jake and felt his forehead. “Were you having nausea?”
“No. Why?”
“Dizziness?”
“No.”
“More swelling?”
He rubbed the back of his head. “Oh, the bump.”
“Let me see.” She pulled his head down to take a look.
“You hiked all the way out here to check a bump on my head,” he said, looking at his knees as he stooped.
“You didn’t eat.” She released his head. “You’ll live, no thanks to Holly. That girl is a train wreck. The whole town knows it.”
“And why is it the whole town’s business?”
“You ought to know. Who do you think watched out for you when your daddy couldn’t?”
“I watched out for myself.”
“You think Sam gave you that job at the paper because he needed help? You needed to be kept off the streets for your own good.”
“Look, Miss Alice, I appreciate Sam giving me a job back then, but I earned every penny I squeezed out of him. He paid me a salary that probably wouldn’t come to minimum wage during the Depression for all the hours I worked.”
“You think your B average got you a college scholarship? Sam knew better than to give a kid like you too much money. He invested the rest of your wages and added his own money for your so-called scholarship.”
Jake’s stomach pinched in a gotcha grip. The job. The scholarship. Not only had Sam believed in Jake, but he’d also invested in him. Sam had told Jake he wanted him to come back and run the paper one day.
“There’s nothing I don’t know that happens in this town, and contrary to gossip, I can keep a secret.”
Jake looked at the key in the palm of his hand, then back at Miss Alice.
Miss Alice narrowed her eyes at Jake. “And what are you doing, snooping around Burl’s hangar, anyway?”
* * *
Rhett yapped as Holly answered the front door. For once, it didn’t squeak. Jake must have fixed it.
A couple tangled in a passionate kiss, oblivious to her presence, stood on the porch. Holly gawked, not knowing what to do and thinking they’d come up for air any minute.
Wondering why Rhett had stopped barking, she glanced down at him.
Rhett tilted his head from side to side, then sat and watched. Jeez.
The guy wore a black baseball cap, and the young woman wore a white baseball cap. Both caps were on backward, to optimize kissing, Holly supposed. How sweet . . .
“We used to be like that,” Burl said over Holly’s shoulder.
His words iced her warm thoughts. She’d thought she loved Burl once, and look what that got her.
Rhett sniffed at Burl’s pants leg, then snorted and pranced away. Holly wished she could walk away from Burl every time he ruined a moment.
“Ahem,” she said, opening the door a little wider.
Burl folded his arms over his chest. “Spoilsport.”
The couple startled and turned to Holly. The woman flipped her white cap around and adjusted her long, brown ponytail. The word bride, blazing in gold glitter, decorated the front of her cap.
“Sorry.” She wrapped her hands around the man’s arm. “We just got married.”
Holly pointed to the cap. “I see. Congratulations.”
The man tipped his matching groom’s hat. “Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Lusco,” he announced, beaming at his bride.
“Mickey Lusco,” the bride said as she waved a pale hand. She wore a silver wedding band.
“We have reservations.” Charlie leaned into his bride and planted a quick peck on her lips, as though he couldn’t get enough of her.
“Enjoy the honeymoon. It’s the best part of marriage.” Burl cut his look to Holly.
She ignored Burl. Opening the door all the way, Holly said, “I’ve been expecting you. Welcome to Holly Grove.”
They didn’t look like drug smugglers, which would give her more time to concentrate on Toni and Duke.
Mickey sauntered into the foyer, with Charlie behind her, carrying their suitcases. She stopped short in front of Eudora’s coffin. Pressing her hand over her mouth, as though suppressing a gasp, she turned to her husband. He stood motionless, staring at the coffin. The two exchanged a look that struck Holly as odd, maybe suspicious.
Burl propped his elbow on Eudora’s coffin. “Guess the lovebirds weren’t expecting a coffin in their love nest.”
Holly brushed her suspicions aside as she joined the couple near the coffin. “Maybe you didn’t realize it, but you’ve come to Holly Grove during the Haunted Pilgrimage,” Holly said to break the odd silence. “As part of the tour, we dress Holly Grove for mourning.”
“Mourning? You mean, like, death?” Mickey said, crinkling her turned-up little nose.
“Well, not real death.” Holly lifted the coffin lid. “Eudora is a dummy. See?”
The honeymooners exchanged another odd glance.
Charlie set the suitcases on the floor. He pointed to the coffin. “You do this every year?”
“Every October.” Holly grabbed a Holly Grove newsletter from a stack on an Empire table. She handed it to Mickey. “We have lots of activities that go along with the Haunted Pilgrimage.”
“Look, honey.” Mickey held the newsletter in front of her husband and pointed. “They have a psychic coming on Saturday. We can see our future.”
“Um, we may be busy.” He winked at Mickey and slid his arm around her waist. “I know our future, baby cakes.”
Standing behind the honeymooners, Burl’s brows shot up. “You better get this guy a room quick.”
“I’ll be right back with your room key and complimentary mint juleps.” Holly walked to the kitchen. She gathered the registration card and pen, then plucked the key with the honeymoon tag from the drawer.
“Why are you putting them out there?” Burl said, trailing behind Holly as she made her way to the kitchen.
She rolled her eyes and blew out an exasperated breath. “Jeez, Burl. Honeymooners.”
“You know I can’t go out there.”
“So?” Holly poured julep mix into two silver cups lined with mulled mint and crushed ice.
“Hey, I’ve been the entertainment all month. After the herd of geriatrics you’ve had sleeping in here, I deserve a little entertainment.”
Holly’s mouth dropped open. “Ew.”
“What?” Burl said, holding his hands palms up, as if she should explain.
Holly shook her head. “You’re hopeless.”
With Burl at her heels, two mint juleps in hand, and guests registration cards in her pocket, she marched to the entrance hall. The honeymooners were kissing again. Holly stepped back around the corner and into the kitchen to give them a moment of privacy. Burl floated on into the entrance hall like the sleaze he was.
She placed the icy juleps on the counter and leaned a hip against the wall. They were going to be busy, all right. Too busy to smuggle drugs? Maybe she was overly suspicious.
But Burl was right. They needed a room and quick. A smile teased Holly’s lips. They’d love the honeymoon treatment she’d given the room earlier. Rose petals on the bed. Massage oil. Bubble bath. Chilled champagne. She might never have another honeymoon, but at least she could do her part to make sure her honeymooners had the best.
Holly peeked around the door to see if it was safe to go into the foyer.
They weren’t there.
Burl pointed to the coffin. “Check this out. I think we’ve found a winner.”
Charlie and Mickey stood hidden, except for their legs, behind the open coffin.
Hearing whispers, Holly tiptoed around the coffin. Holly blinked, as though that would clear her vision. Bent over the coffin, the honeymooners were peeking under Eudora’s dress as they whispered to each other.
Holly widened her stance and squared her shoulders. “Looking for something?”
CHAPTER 25
The fight-or-flight mechanism roared to life in Holly. She’d just confronted smugglers, and she was alone in the house.
Looking for something? What was she thinking? Okay, she was thinking about getting rid of Burl, but she should have kept quiet until Jake got back. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.
The honeymooners straightened from looking in the coffin and stared at Holly, then looked at each other.
“Just checking out the dummy in the coffin,” Charlie said.
Holly pointed a shaky finger at Eudora. “Under her skirt?”
The front door opened, and Jake strode into the foyer like a white knight.
Burl groaned. “You give him a little attention, and the bozo doesn’t even knock.”
Holly rushed to Jake’s side. “They were looking under Eudora’s dress,” she said, pointing to Charlie and Mickey.
Jake’s brows slammed together; then he eyed the honeymooners. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Look, man.” Charlie held his hands up. “It’s nothing.”
Mickey straightened Eudora’s dress. “This is embarrassing.”
“We made a little bet.” Charlie draped an arm over Mickey’s shoulder and grinned.
Mickey gave a sheepish look. “He bet me the dummy wasn’t wearing panties.”
“And I won, didn’t I, baby cakes?” Charlie said, giving Mickey a squeeze.
“We didn’t know we weren’t supposed to touch,” Mickey said.
Jake wiped his hand over his face, but Holly saw a shadow of a grin.
He’s buying this. I can’t believe it.
Burl spewed laughter and pointed at Holly. “Gotcha, again, Blondie.”
“That’s just wrong,” Holly blurted to Burl without thinking. “A lifetime isn’t a long enough curse for you. A thousand years wouldn’t be enough.”
Mickey buried her face in Charlie’s shirt.
“Now look what you’ve done on our wedding night!” Charlie said, patting his sobbing bride.
* * *
“A thousand-year curse for touching a dummy.” Jake paced across the front porch as the honeymooners walked to their cottage. Miss Alice was right. Holly was a train wreck, and she’d wreck this bust or get herself
killed if he didn’t control her. “What were you thinking?”
Holly perched on the edge of a wicker sofa and swung a crossed leg, bouncing her hoop skirt up and down. “I don’t know.” She lifted a shoulder. “It was the first thing that popped into my head.”
Jake blew out an exasperated breath.
“I told them I was kidding,” she said, fidgeting with the buttons on her dress.
“Charlie wasn’t laughing. Mickey evidently believes in ghosts and curses and all that mumbo jumbo.”
“What was I supposed to say? ‘Gee. I thought you were looking for your stash. Sorry.’”
Jake leaned against the porch rail and folded his arms. “You weren’t supposed to say or do anything without talking to me.”
“But—”
“But nothing.” Jake paced again.
“What was I supposed to think when I saw them peeking under Eudora’s skirt?”
“Think this. You’re not a cop or Nancy Drew.”
Holly stood and marched over to Jake. “Think this.” She wagged a finger in his face. “I’m in the best position to figure out who the smuggler is. I clean the guests’ rooms every day. I eat with them. We talk. And I see them come and go. If I see something suspicious, I’m doing something about it.”
“What you’re doing is complicating things, and it may get you hurt or worse.”
“But—”
“The whole idea is to figure out who the smuggler is without them knowing, so we can catch them in the act.”
Holly plastered her hands on her hips. “Stop interrupting me.”
“Then say something I want to hear.”
She lifted her chin. “I think I know who the smuggler is.”
“Not Mickey and Charlie?”
“I may have gotten a little off track with them,” she said as she pushed a curl behind her ear.
“May have?”
“Okay. I messed up, but I really think I have something this time. Do you know how to pick a lock?”
“Maybe. Why?”
Her eyes sparked with excitement. “You haven’t met the guests I picked up at the airstrip yet. Just wait till you see them.”
“I saw the plane.”
Better Dead Page 17
